Tips For Dealing With Postpartum Hair Loss

Most mothers-to-be experience fuller hair during their pregnancy and the unusual hair growth can be a telltale sign of ensuing hair loss. Whatever the cause, the reality is that it takes 6 – 12 months to reset your hair growth cycle, which is a long time to be dealing with bald spots and the uncertainty of whether you will get your luscious locks back.

When caring for your hair, the general idea is to ensure your mane has sufficient nutrients and your roots aren’t clogged with dirt or excess oils.

1. Styling

The most immediate solution is to use mousse and strategic styling to hide bald spots and disguise thinning locks. As long as you wash your hair out properly and avoid using heating tools like curling irons, your mane will grow out normally eventually.

2. Wash your hair less often

Unlike the superstition of catching a cold through the open pores on your head, washing your hair less has been proven to reduce hair loss. Singapore’s water comes from Malaysia or through our own water treatment plants and both sources go through the same purifying process involving chlorine and this chemical is not entirely eliminated by the time it reaches our homes. It strips our locks of its natural oils and colour resulting in brittle hair, making hair loss more eminent.

3. Sulphate-free shampoos

Not every mother can keep up with styling your hair everyday or refraining from washing your hair everyday, since chasing toddlers, doing household chores and working outdoors means perspiration and oily hair. If you must wash your hair everyday, shampoo directly onto your scalp while avoiding the lower half of your hair and choose soaps with fewer chemicals.

Sulphates produce lather which most of us associate with cleanliness. It is such an effective cleaning agent that on top of dirt and dust, our natural hair oils are also washed away. Eliminating this from shampoos can help reduce hair loss and expedite the healing process.

4. Follicle stimulating foods

The food we eat or don’t eat plays a huge impact on our hair – when you lack the necessary nutrients, your body shuts off maintenance to the less vital parts first. Your hair is made of keratine and 18 different amino acids. While you won’t see immediate results, eating well ensures the quality of hair that eventually grows out – fish oil and foods rich in zinc like oysters, crabs, veal or turkey help to facilitate hair growth and repair.

Postpartum hair loss is not permanent, consult a doctor if the problem persists beyond 12 months.